Notable People
John Mason (1645–94) was parish priest of St. Giles. He was a Puritan, admired by fellow-clergy including Richard Baxter and Henry Maurice. Mason wrote more than 30 hymns, including the still popular Anglican hymn How shall I sing that majesty.
In the last years of his life Mason's mental health deteriorated. From 1690 he preached that the Second Coming of Christ was imminent. He claimed he was the prophet Elijah and that he would be raised from the dead three days after his death. From 1693 hundreds of followers flocked to Water Stratford, where they lived in barns or camped in a field awaiting the Second Coming. Mason died on 22 May 1694. His followers' belief was so strong that his successor as parish priest had Mason's corpse exhumed to disprove his claim of resurrection. Still some of Mason's followers refused to leave, and stayed at Water Stratford awaiting his resurrection for up to 15 years when they were dispersed by the local militia.
Joseph Bosworth (1789–1876), scholar of Old English, was parish priest of St. Giles from 1857.
More recent former residents are Paul Daniels, magician, and Peter Woodthorpe, actor.
Read more about this topic: Water Stratford
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